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				<h1><span>Info Centre - Cup-drinking</span></h1>

				
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				<p><span></span><a 
href="http://www.nctshop.co.uk/Doidy-Cup/productinfo/2003" 
target="_blank" title="Doidy Cup" 
onclick="javascript:urchinTracker('/shop/doidycup1');"><img 
src="DrinkingCup_files/doidy.jpg" alt="Doidy cup" height="136" 
width="191" align="right"></a><span>Nowadays ‘no spill’ cups are 
advertised as essential equipment for modern child rearing, saving your 
furnishings from ruin, and promoting independence for growing babies and
 toddlers. But there is a bewildering choice of feeding cups available, 
and parents can face a dilemma when deciding which drinks are the 
healthiest.</span><span>In fact, there are growing concerns among 
dentists that the way these ‘no spill’ cups are used may be damaging 
children’s teeth. </span></p><p><span>Frequently sipping squash or juice
 throughout the day means that a child’s teeth and gums are constantly 
bathed in sweet, acidic liquids, leading to tooth decay (dental caries) 
and erosion.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><h3><span></span><span>What 
does your child need to drink?</span></h3><p><strong><span></span></strong><span>In
 the early days it’s straightforward – babies who are not on solids 
rarely need additional fluids. In hot weather, however, your baby may 
seem thirsty. If you’re bottle feeding your baby and don’t think that 
she needs more formula, you can offer her cooled, boiled water from a 
bottle or cup. </span></p><p><span>Breastfed babies can be fed more 
frequently because the energy content of breastmilk changes as the feed 
continues. Once weaning begins at around six months, older babies and 
children who are allowed to drink any fluid other than plain water 
freely throughout the day may fill up on calories from these drinks, 
reducing their appetite for milk or solid foods. </span></p><p><span>This
 makes it difficult for the child to get enough nutrients, and may lead 
to deficiencies over a period of time, especially anaemia due to lack of
 iron. </span><span>Dieticians recommend that babies should be 
introduced to drinking from a cup by six months at the latest, and the 
use of a bottle actively discouraged after one year.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><h3><span></span><span>How
 does tooth damage occur?</span></h3><p><span></span><span>T</span><span>ooth
 decay occurs when the bacteria in our mouths digest some of the sugar 
from our foods and drinks, forming acids that can weaken the tooth 
enamel. As the enamel on milk teeth is thinner, babies and children are 
vulnerable to tooth decay and the process can begin before teeth are 
fully erupted, which is why it is important to clean your baby’s teeth 
and gums. </span></p><p><span>Untreated decay spreads quickly, and can 
result in an infection or toothache.</span><span>Although there are many
 natural foods and drinks other than pure sugar that can cause tooth 
damage, artificial sweeteners are not permitted in foods for children 
under three years of age. </span></p><p><span>It is the acid, which is 
present even in sugar-free varieties of fruit juices, fizzy drinks and 
squashes, that causes dental erosion – the gradual wear of the surfaces 
of the teeth. These drinks are so popular that nearly half of children 
in the UK have some dental erosion by the age of six.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><h3><span></span><span>Don’t
 panic</span></h3><p><span></span><span>There is no need to panic and 
ban all sugary or acidic drinks from your child’s diet, but it is a good
 idea to limit their consumption. It is the frequency with which such 
drinks are consumed which determines the danger of tooth decay and 
erosion. </span></p><p><span>Dentists advise that thirsty children are 
given only plain water to drink between meals, with other drinks kept 
for supervised consumption during meal times, and then in open cups.</span></p><p><span></span><span>Parents
 and carers should be particularly wary of allowing babies and children 
of any age to fall asleep sucking on a bottle or cup containing any 
sugary drink – including milk. </span></p><p><span>During sleep the flow
 of saliva decreases, allowing the sugary liquids to pool around the 
child’s teeth for an extended period of time.&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><h3><span></span><span>Fruit
 juice</span></h3><p><strong><span></span></strong><span>Fruit juice can
 be an occasional addition to your childs diet during the weaning period
 as it contains vitamin C, which aids the absorption of iron.<span>&nbsp;
 </span></span></p><p><span><span></span>Fruit juice is often seen by 
parents as a healthy alternative to squash, but it still contains sugars
 and acids that can harm tooth enamel. Juice should be given to your 
child sparingly and well diluted, as part of meal times. </span></p><p><span>One
 Community Dental Service suggests that the juice to water ratio should 
be one part juice to ten parts water.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><h3><span></span><span>Choosing
 and using a cup</span></h3><p><strong><span></span></strong><span>The 
latest advice from dentists is to avoid no-spill designs, instead 
choosing a cup that spills when tipped – either an open cup, or a lidded
 design that allows liquid to flow freely.</span></p><p><span></span><span>Teaching
 babies to drink straight from an open cup is time consuming and messy, 
but it avoids the need for further and unnecessary transitions from 
bottle, to spout, to open cup. </span></p><p><span>Sarah panicked when 
she was due to return to work and her six month old daughter refused to 
use a bottle or trainer cup, but she followed advice to try an open cup 
instead, ‘Hannah continued to refuse bottles and spouts, but staff at 
her nursery were able to feed her my expressed milk a little at a time 
from an open cup.’</span></p><p><span></span><span>Babies can begin 
drinking from an open cup from birth. Midwives sometimes suggest that if
 a breastfed baby requires any supplementation, milk is given from a cup
 rather than a bottle to avoid the possibility of nipple confusion. </span></p><p><span>Young
 babies drink with a lapping action, which gradually develops into 
drinking. Initially, your baby will continue to get most of her liquids 
as milk from either breast or bottle, so don’t worry if she becomes 
frustrated and wants to stop after only a tiny amount. </span></p><p><span>Later
 on, if she wants a drink between meals, whenever practical offer her 
plain water from a cup. Gradually, drinking from a cup will become 
second nature.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><span></span><strong><span>Remember:
 </span></strong><span>Try to make things at your baby’s pace, offering a
 drink from a cup as part of each meal<span>&nbsp; </span>- when 
possible for you and without pressuring her! </span><span>Take care over
 cleaning all parts of cups, particularly awkwardly shaped valves and 
spouts, as they can rapidly become a breeding ground for bacteria.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><h3><span></span><span>Want
 to know more?</span></h3><p><span>British Dental Health Foundation<span>&nbsp;
 </span><a href="http://www.dentalhealth.org.uk/">http://www.dentalhealth.org.uk</a>
 </span></p><p><span>If you would like to use a cup, NCT Shop stocks <a 
href="http://www.nctshop.co.uk/PRODUCT-TITLE/productinfo/2003/" 
target="_blank" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker('/shop/doidycup2');">Doidy
 Cups</a>.</span></p><span><p><em>Page lasted updated 2008.</em></p></span><span><span><a
 href="http://www.nctsales.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=750"></a></span></span>
	
				

    

				
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